Congressman Cleaver’s Statement Following Passage of the CASH Act
The CASH Act Would Increase Direct Payments to American Families From $600 to $2,000
(Washington, D.C.) – Today, United States Representative Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the Caring for Americans With Supplemental Help (CASH) Act of 2020 with overwhelming bipartisan support.
"For months now, my Democratic colleagues in Congress have pushed for larger survival checks for working class Americans who have been devastated by the economic impact of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic. Despite previous objections from congressional Republicans, it appears the holiday spirit has rubbed off on my colleagues across the aisle. I'm extraordinarily pleased they have come around to the realization that American families are in dire need of substantive direct payments and have joined House Democrats in increasing these payments from $600 to $2,000.
"With support from the President, two-thirds of the House of Representatives, and every Democrat in the Senate, there is no excuse for the Senate Majority Leader to block this critical legislation from getting a vote on the Senate Floor.
"While I am certain that more relief will be needed in the coming months, which is why I have been calling for recurring payments since April, this is an important lifeline to keep families afloat until the flood of COVID-19 begins to recede across the nation. I only hope the GOP-controlled Senate will do the right thing and allow it to pass for the American people."
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Emanuel Cleaver, II is the U.S. Representative for Missouri's Fifth Congressional District, which includes Kansas City, Independence, Lee's Summit, Raytown, Grandview, Sugar Creek, Blue Springs, Grain Valley, Oak Grove, North Kansas City, Gladstone, Claycomo, and all of Ray, Lafayette, and Saline Counties. He is a member of the exclusive House Financial Services Committee; Chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, International Development, and Monetary Policy; member of the Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress; member of the Committee on Homeland Security; and a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. For more information, please contact Matt Helfant at 202-590-0175 or Matthew.Helfant@mail.house.gov A high-resolution photo of Congressman Cleaver is available here.